Just On My Mind…
July 30, 2007 | Filed Under Politics, World, Church
This blog doesn’t really touch much on politics, (that’s not really it’s purpose), but…our family is unique in its ties to Asia and so we keep up a bit on Taiwan and China and that whole mess from time to time. Without delving into it too much on this site, let me just make a few points.
First off, hat’s off to Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia for his position on access to media in the world. I think any group that doesn’t bow down to the censoreship that China imposes, is good in my book. For more thoughts on the firewall on information there, read on.
As members of the Church, naturally we hope that the gospel will thrive in China sooner rather than later, and there are encouraging signs that eventually the Communist government there will fall, (long overdue in my view) allowing that to happen more quickly. Meanwhile, Taiwan is a lighthouse, along with Japan and Hong Kong (even in transition at the moment) in that part of the world.
When we visited Taiwan last, I soon found out that discussing politics was a hot issue, with Kuei’s family and friends. And I know some of you guys read up on this blog too, (so I’ll try not to encite you too much to flame this entry!) 
But…
All interpretations aside, wouldn’t it be an interesting strategy during the Olympics next year, say…opening ceremonies….if Taiwan “officially” declared (or in some circles..restated) its independence? Ha! 
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Discussions about politics rarely end well,
But it’s kind of exciting to look at the political scene in Taiwan now with the elections coming up quickly and the cross-strait relatinship heating up.
It’s all about ‘face’ over there, and it was inevitable that both campaigns have enlisted the ‘face’ of Taiwan, Yankee pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, to do some pseudo-stumping. Mr. Xie, the leading candidate for the Green party, recently showed his mug at a Yankee game. Not to be outdone, Mr. Ma, the Blue’s number one guy, is slated to catch a game later this month…Only in Taiwan is it cool to be a Yankee fan…
The whole Taiwan-China thing is a tough call for me. I know independence is deserved, adn it’s a righteous endeavor, but I think President Chen is a little bit wacky about it. In my opinion, he’s either straight up crazy, or he’s a revolutionary. I can’t discern, especially in today’s world where it seems like all politicians are fake.
On the other hand, it’s a bit refreshing to see him take a stand. Political systems, no matter where, are supposed to be set up for the benefit of the people; to give the ‘little guy’ a chance. Here in the US, we’ve seen our representatives make decision after decision that benefit big business. Lobbyists, lawyers, and liars run this country. Not laymen. That’s the sad reality that we’re in. But it seems that President Chen is trying to make a moral decision here, and it is lost on the general public. The business decision is easy in Taiwan’s case; tie yourself to the biggest motherload of wealth and military on the planet. The moral decision not as simple; stand up to Goliath.
I wonder how it will play out. I think the Olympic idea is a good one. Try to force their hand and make ‘em lose face while they’re on an international stage.
I agree it will be very interesting to see how it will all play out. It has always been a taboo subject in Kuei’s family. That’s funny about the Yankee games. What a forum for politicians, right?
I look at the conflict in much the same way as I do the Middle East. It’s a big family fued there. (The descendants of Ishmael and Issac…going at it since Abraham)…But China and Taiwan have a similar quarrel.
Still, when you look at the influence the restored gospel has on our ward, for instance, it is great how the added perspective brings everyone together:
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God..”
So I think the growth of the Church there will have a huge role in healing the rifts between the countries. (And when China fully embraces democracy, I think it will be the catalyst for that to take place). Time will tell though…
Talking politics is something that you’ve got to be very careful to do with family and friends.
Although the Church in China is making great progress, unless there’s some serious change in the philosophies of the government, I don’t see it taking root strongly anytime soon. Especially if the government were to ever realize how much higher of a role that God truly plays over government in the minds of a true believer.